Gareth Bale is not worth $100 million. He is not worth anything over $40 million. If Real Madrid want to pay monopoly money for him then Daniel Levy, the Tottenham Hotspur chairman is duty bound to consider and in all likelihood accept the offer. A world record bid for Bale, if accepted, could see Spurs bring in two more quality players in addition to Paulinho, Roberto Soldado and Nacer Chadli. They would still have money left over to pay the overdraft on the club’s state of the art $50 million training facility or use towards their new 60,000 seated stadium. If the figure is to be believed then it is too good an offer for a financially well run club like Tottenham to turn down. If Spurs keep Bale, he could be key to their qualifying for next year’s Champions League and perhaps be in the title race beyond the January transfer window. Without him they will be fighting for fourth place with a number of clubs. If they keep him, the image of the club is enhanced and Spurs will be candidates for the top three and to win a trophy. If he leaves then the club without additional signings could take a step backwards. It is a huge decision for Levy. He needs to look no further than Liverpool to see how things work out for a club when a star player is sold.

If Bale leaves, Spurs should be fine next season. It could be addition by subtraction. Danny Rose and Andros Townsend, two England Under 21 internationals have returned from season long loan deals with Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers respectively. French international, Younes Kaboul and Brazilian star, Sandro, two key players, return from long-term injuries. They have signed the previously mentioned Paulinho, Soldado, and Chadli with more to come. That is seven additions to a team that were one point off rivals Arsenal for fourth place. Will Real Madrid want Bale any less next season? No. So Spurs should do all they can to hold on to the player. Luka Modric and Dimitar Berbatov remained at White Hart Lane one season after requesting a transfer. Similarly, Cristiano Ronaldo remained at Manchester United for a year while Robert Lewandowski has committed to Borussia Dortmund until next July. Bale could help fire Spurs to Champions League glory which would only enhance his reputation. The papers always quote players being included as make weights in the mega transfers. However, can anyone remember when a player has actually gone in part exchange? The only one I can think of off the top of my head is Keith Gillespie from Manchester United to Newcastle United when Andy or is it Andrew Cole went in the opposite direction. Why would Spurs want a player or two from Real who will have shown no desire to play at White Hart Lane? Spurs have asked for $100 million plus Alarvo Morato. Real Madrid ruled out Morato leaving as part of the deal. So Real Madrid say no to Spurs about Morato, but cannot accept Spurs saying no to Bale leaving. How ironic.

Journalistic standards in Britain have fallen to the point that not only do the tabloids report what Spanish newspaper Marca publishes as fact, but the broad sheets do too. Do newspapers no longer employ fact checkers? Marca rehashed an old article about Luka Modric being unhappy at Spurs and changed his name to Gareth Bale. The British press then ran the story saying reports in Spain are that Bale is unhappy. The Spanish press then repeated what was written in England as corroboration of their story and all of a sudden a self-fulfilling cycle was rotating. Why are the British press doing Real Madrid’s bidding for them? Why are they in such a hurry to see the Premier League’s best player leave for a rival league? If he were English would they be so supportive of Gareth Bale moving to Spain? Bale is the face of BT, the latest media company to cover the Premier League. Is it in Sky’s (and the Murdoch media empire’s) best interests to see Bale leave the EPL? Credit to the Daily Mirror’s Oliver Holt for writing a well balance opinion piece making the case for why Bale should stay at Tottenham. He is one of the only journalists to question whether it is in Bale’s, Spurs’ or even the EPL’s best interests for the player to leave.

Why do UEFA and FIFA allow Real Madrid to discuss potential transfer targets so publicly? At what point do their media comments bring the game into disrepute? Despite being a great player Zinedine Zidane does not come out of the Bale saga with his reputation enhanced. UEFA should consider the US sports rule that precludes teams from commenting on their interest in players under contract with another club. Can someone please explain to me how Real Madrid are going to fulfill the parameters of Financial Fair Play if they sign Bale for $100 million or more? Tottenham Hotspur have survived the transfers of Dave Mackay, Jimmy Greaves, Pat Jennings, Glenn Hoddle, and Chris Waddle to name but five players sold by the club. Despite the legendary status of all five, Spurs moved on and survived without them. None were bigger than the club. The same will apply with Bale. He is not bigger than the club. Tottenham Hotspur will survive without Gareth Bale.